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Fragrance Guide

Fragrances are composed of many different components, with sometimes over 100 different components making up one fragrance, and not all components will behave nicely in soap making. Some will cause the chemical reaction, the saponification process, to accelerate, which will thicken the soap quickly. This may cause difficulties when you are doing a swirling design, or need time to create your soap. Other components in fragrances can cause the soap to discolour. Vanillin is one well-known culprit to discolour a soap ranging from light beige to dark brown, depending on the amount of vanillin a fragrance contains. To help you with choosing your fragrance for your soap, this table lists the fragrances from major soap making suppliers here in New Zealand: Pure Nature, Zen Designs, NZ Soap & Candle, Candle Creations, and NZ Candle Supplies.

The table is constantly being updated as more information becomes available. And you can help by sending me your experiences with fragrances to info@inmysoappot.co.nz. Your help will be much appreciated by all the soap makers here in New Zealand! <3

Note: – if a fragrance is in italics, it means the fragrance is no longer available from the supplier– a question mark ? means there is no information available

Fragrance

Supplier

Accelerates

Discolours

Vanillin

Additional Notes

Egyptian Amber

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0.01-2%

Discolours to caramel. No acceleration.

Black Raspberry & Vanilla

Pure Nature

NO

YES

2.01-5%

No acceleration. Discolours to brown.

Caramel Popcorn

Pure Nature

NO

YES

3.7%

No acceleration. Discolours to caramel.

Coconut Lime

Pure Nature

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration. Behaves beautifully in soap. Good fragrance retention.

Watermelon

Pure Nature

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration. Strong scent. Lovely to work with.

Lavender

Pure Nature

YES

NO

0%

Very slight acceleration. No discolouration.

Love Spell

Pure Nature

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Red Rose

Pure Nature

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration. Strong scent.

Leather

Pure Nature

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration.

White Tea

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to a light yellow.

Blueberry Cheesecake

Pure Nature

YES

YES

2.01-5%

Slight acceleration and discolours to a light/medium brown. Strong scent.

Tropical Coconut

Pure Nature

YES

YES

N/A

Slight acceleration, discolours to light beige, scent is faint.

Jasmine

Pure Nature

YES

NO

N/A

Slight acceleration, no discolouration

Sweet Pea

Pure Nature

YES

NO

0%

Slight acceleration. No discolouration.

Cotton Candy

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to light tan.

Whiskey

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to a dark tan. Strong smell of alcohol which fades after curing to a pleasant masculine scent.

White Tea & Berries

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0.01-2%

No acceleration. Discolours to a tan.

Amber Noir

Pure Nature

?

?

0.1-0.9%

Antique Sandalwood

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to tan.

Apple Blossom

Pure Nature

YES

NO

N/A

Seizes! Not suitable for CP or HP soap making.

Apple Harvest

Pure Nature

YES

YES

0.01-0.2%

Slight discolouration. Discolours to light tan.

Blackcurrant Tea

Pure Nature

?

?

over 5%

Bamboo Coconut

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0.01-2%

No acceleration. Discolours to brown.

Beach Linen

Pure Nature

?

?

1.33%

Black Currant Absinthe

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0.01-2%

No acceleration. Discolours to tan.

Blood Orange

Pure Nature

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Blue Spruce

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Brown Sugar and Fig

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0.01-2%

No acceleration. Discolours to beige.

Caribbean Teakwood

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Cassia & Amber

Pure Nature

YES

NO

0%

Slight acceleration. No discolouration.

Chocolate Fudge

Pure Nature

NO

YES

2.01-5%

Discolours to brown. No acceleration.

Christmas Tree

Pure Nature

YES

YES

0%

Accelerates. Discolours to yellow.

Citron & Mandarin

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to light yellow.

Citronella

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Clean Cotton

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Slight acceleration. Discolours to light yellow.

Coconut

Pure Nature

?

?

0.01-2%

Creme Brulee

Pure Nature

NO

YES

2.01-5%

Discolours to dark brown. No acceleration.

Cucumber Mint

Pure Nature

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Cypress and Bayberry

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to tan.

Day at the Spa

Pure Nature

YES

NO

0%

Slight acceleration. No discolouration.

Driftwood

Pure Nature

NO

YES

2.01-5%

Discolours to brown. No acceleration and strong scent retention.

English Garden

Pure Nature

YES

YES

N/A

Accelerates slightly and discolours to tan.

Frankincense & Myrrh

Pure Nature

?

?

5-10%

Fig & Rhubarb

Pure Nature

NO

YES

2.01-5%

No acceleration. Discolours to brown.

Fig Tree

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

Discolours to a light beige. No acceleration.

Fireside Fragrance

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Fresh Coffee

Pure Nature

NO

YES

2.01-5%

Discolours to tan. No acceleration.

Fruit Slices

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Light yellow discolouration.

Garden Mint

Pure Nature

NO

NO

0%

No discolouration. No acceleration.

Gardenia

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Gingerbread

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

Discolours to a very light tan. No acceleration.

Grapefruit & Mint

Pure Nature

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration. Behaves beautifully in soap and good scent.

Green Tea & Lemongrass

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Himalayan Bamboo

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Honey Dew

Pure Nature

?

?

1.5%

Holly Berry

Pure Nature

YES

YES

0%

Accelerates. Discolours to beige.

Island Coconut

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0.1-0.5%

Discolours to a light tan. No acceleration.

Japanese Cherry Blossom

Pure Nature

YES

NO

0%

Slight acceleration. No discolouration.

Jamaica Me Crazy

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to light yellow.

Lemon Verbena

Pure Nature

?

?

1.5%

Lime Cooler

Pure Nature

?

?

1.5%

Mango & Papaya

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Mango & Tangerine

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration, but separates. Suitable for HP but not CP soap making. Discolours to light brown.

Mediterranean Fig

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0.01-2%

No acceleration. Discolours to beige.

Mimosa & Mandarin

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Mint Mojito

Pure Nature

NO

?

0%

No acceleration.

Mistletoe

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Moonlake Musk

Pure Nature

?

?

0.01-2%

Oakmoss & Amber

Pure Nature

YES

YES

0%

Slight acceleration and discolours to a light mauve shade.

Orange Blossom

Pure Nature

YES

YES

0%

Slight acceleration. Slight discolouration to a peachy tan.

Passionfruit & Guava

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Peach Nectar

Pure Nature

?

?

2%

Pink Magnolia

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Plumeria

Pure Nature

SLOWS

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to a pale yellow.

Pumpkin Pie

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0.01%-2%

No acceleration. Discolours to dark brown.

Red Currant

Pure Nature

?

?

0%

Sage & Pomegranate

Pure Nature

NO

NO

No discolouration. No acceleration.

Sea Salt & Orchid

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0.01-2%

No acceleration, but discolours to tan.

Snickerdoodles

Pure Nature

?

?

2%

Sparkling Pomelo

Pure Nature

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to pale yellow. Some have experienced a slight separation.

Strawberry Shortcake

Pure Nature

?

YES

over 5%

Discolours to dark brown.

Very Vanilla

Pure Nature

?

YES

over 5%

Discolours to dark brown.

Frangipani & Coconut

Pure Nature

YES

?

N/A

Accelerates and seizes. Not suitable for soap making.

Rose Geranium

Zen Designs

YES

YES

N/A

Accelerates and discolours to light yellow.

Aspen Winter

Zen Designs

YES

YES

N/A

Accelerates and discolours.

Frosted Pinecones

Zen Designs

YES

NO

N/A

Accelerates at higher temperatures. No discolouration.

Frankincense & Myrrh

Zen Designs

YES

YES

3.6%

Accelerates. Discolours due to vanillin content.

Madagascar Spice

Zen Designs

YES

YES

N/A

Accelerates and discolours to caramel.

Wild Frangipani

Zen Designs

YES

?

N/A

Accelerates.

Mango Papaya

Zen Designs

YES

NO

0%

Strong acceleration and ricing. Not suitable for soap making.

Sweet Pea Jasmine

Zen Designs

?

YES

2%

Discolours to a yellow.

Sweet Pea Vanilla

Zen Designs

YES

YES

N/A

Slight acceleration. Discolours to a yellow/beige.

French Pear

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Discolours to yellow/brown.

Baby Powder

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Discolours to light brown. Scent holds well.

Pink Sugar

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

Discolours to green and then brown. No acceleration.

Monkey Farts

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Discolours to light yellow.

Sweet Pea

Zen Designs

YES

NO

N/A

Light acceleration. No discolouration.

Apple Cinnamon

Zen Designs

NO

?

N/A

No acceleration.

Energy

Zen Designs

NO

?

N/A

No acceleration.

Euphoria

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

L'Occitane Verbena

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Lemongrass, Kiwi & Cassis

Zen Designs

NO

?

N/A

No acceleration.

Mandarin & Mimosa

Zen Designs

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Discolours to a light tan.

Pineapple Mango

Zen Designs

NO

?

0%

No acceleration.

Jamaica Me Crazy

Zen Designs

NO

?

N/A

No acceleration.

Ginger Lime

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Discolours to a dark brown.

Bubblegum

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Discolours to a medium caramel colour.

Oatmeal, Milk & Honey

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Discolours to a tan colour.

Alyssum

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Discolours to brown.

Bite Me

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Discolours to light tan.

Dragon's Blood

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Discolours.

Nag Champa

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Light discolouration.

Beach Daisies

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Black Raspberry & Vanilla

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Chanel No 5

Zen Designs

NO

YES

7%

No acceleration. Discolours.

Coconut Lime

Zen Designs

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Freesia

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Indian Summer

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Lemon Zest

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Love Spell

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Misbehavin'

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Rosewood & Musk

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Strawberries & Champagne

Zen Designs

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration.

White Sage & Sea Salt

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

White Tea & Ginger

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Blood Orange

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration. Scent holds well.

Victorian Rose

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration. Scent holds well.

Black Cherry Bomb

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No acceleration. No discolouration. Strong scent.

Ambre Lumiere

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

No acceleration. Slight discolouration.

Raspberry

Zen Designs

NO

YES

0%

No acceleration. Slight discolouration.

Amalfi Coast

Zen Designs

YES

NO

N/A

No discolouration.

Avocado & Mint

Zen Designs

NO

NO

0%

No acceleration. No discolouration.

Sweet Orange Chilli

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No discolouration. No acceleration. But scent fades.

Mango Sorbet

Zen Designs

NO

NO

N/A

No discolouration. No acceleration.

China Rain

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

Not a strong scent. Discolours to a light yellow. No acceleration.

Birds of Paradise

Zen Designs

?

NO

N/A

Ricing. No discolouration.

Toasted Marshmallow

Zen Designs

NO

YES

N/A

Scent fades after curing. No acceleration. Discolours to a dark brown.